Title: Space Cat
Author: Ruthven Todd
Reviewers: Lorraine Leatham & J. Helgeson - Rainey Day Book Reviews
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Space Cat was a pretty cute book. I read it with my son. He liked it enough to read it twice. This is the intoduction to a series I believe. wish I had such a cute introduction to Sci-fi when I was a kid.

As a child raised in the Caribbean, I had never heard of this beloved book. As a crazy cat lady and teacher, I am glad I came across this reissue. Paul Galdone's illustrations complement Todd's text and made me want to revisit childhood favorites such as The Teeny-Tiny Woman and Tailypo.

'Space Cat' by Ruthven Todd with illustrations by Paul Galdone is a reprint from the era before we actually went to the moon, but it's still a fun read with some great illustrations.

A young cat, nicknamed Flyball by the pilots he meets, sneaks his way on to an airbase and on to a jet plane. He gets invited along for a trip to the moon. A special suit is made for him (which he is not terribly fond of), and he sets off for space. On the moon, he even makes some interesting discoveries and becomes a hero.

It's the first in a series about Space Cat, and I really liked it. It's the kind of early reader science fiction I loved as a kid. The science and principles don't hold up, but the story has enough imagination and wonder that it holds up as a pretty good read.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

In the first of this easy reader series, pilot Captain Fred Stone finds an adventurous feline he names Flyball. Stone is a bit of a rogue - doing things the way he wants to do them, which is not always in keeping with his superior officers' methods. But as Stone is the best pilot the military has, he's given a lot of leeway. And so when Stone, who is about to fly a rocket to the moon asks that a spacesuit be fitted out for Flyball, his request is grudgingly granted and he and the Space Cat fly to the moon.

Learning to maneuver in zero gravity gives Flyball a few challenges but he works it out.

On the moon, Flyball (and Stone) discover an unusual life-form that appears to be a plant-like bubble. But then Stone falls and cracks his helmet against some rock and knocks himself out. Flyball comes to the rescue, covering up the crack with his suited paws, but he knows that he can't stay that way forever. The bubble-life-form manages to get Flyball's attention and the cat understands its intention. The bubbles are sticky - so sticky that he has trouble getting his paws out of the mess - and Flyball manages to secure a bubble over the crack in Stone's helmet. Stone wakes up, recognizes Flyball as a hero and the bubbles as an intelligent life form. Hooray for Space Cat!

The story is simple, a little bit goofy, and totally charming. It's classic 1950's sci-fi children and it's just adventurous enough that today's early readers can get interested in it. Is the science plausible? No. In 1952 it was questionable. But look at today's fantasy and science fiction for kids. Is that any more plausible? Not really.

The book is simple fantasy fun with a charming cat at the center of it. What more can you want?

The artwork by Paul Galdone is also classically 1950's. It's a 'styled realism' that was rather unique to the period. It works well with the story.

I'd be thrilled to keep this book on my shelf (you might find some used copies around still, but fortunately Dover is re-publishing it just as it was, but a bit cleaner and sharper) for visits from nephews, nieces, and someday grandchildren.

Looking for a good book? Space Cat by Ruthven Todd is a simple but delightful very short chapter book for early readers. The cat in space and his adventure there will capture the young readers interest.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Space Cat is a children's book originally published in 1952 by Ruthven Todd, with illustrations by Paul Galdone, that has recently been reprinted.Everyone goes to the moon in stories these days - why not a cat? So we have the ambitious young cat, Flyball, going off in a rocket and having extraordinary adventures. He is a delight in his space suit - a descendant perhaps of that famous adventurer Puss in Boots. On the moon he becomes, of course, a super-cat, rescuing his master and finding surprising things in a cave. Children will love Flyball's story - grown-ups, reading it aloud, will see in it a slight take-off on the popular science-fiction thread.

Space Cat is a fun adventure that is made sweeter by nostalgia. Adults that remember this book from its first printing, and readers new to the story, will be able to get lost in Flyball's perspective of the world and his adventures. I like reading about Flyball thinking about how he is in charge, even when denied his wishes. I think my cats have the same mentality. I think animal lovers, adventure fans, and science fiction fans will all enjoy this high flying adventure. The story is vintage, and fans of science fiction will be amused at some of the ideas about space travel, and the moon, from the story from the time in which it was written. I must admit that Flyball's little songs got a little tiresome, and by the end of the book I was just skipping over them.

Space Cat is a product of its time, and a fun read for early chapter book readers that like space, adventure, and cats. Those looking to revisit a loved or remembered book from their childhood might also want to pick it up and see it it stands up to your memories.

Space Cat was written by Ruthven Todd, illustrated by Paul Galdone, and first published in 1952. I want to point out that this was 17 years before humans actually walked on the moon.

The story follows an adorable little kitten named Flyball, who wants to travel to the moon one day. He sees it up in the sky every night, and wonders what it would be like to go there. His dreams unexpectedly come true after he is adopted by a pilot/astronaut, who finds himself traveling to the moon.

Flyball, being a cat, isn’t supposed to be traveling in a rocket to the moon, but since he is deemed to be lucky, he’s allowed to go. Plus, no one can really stop him from wandering into the rocket anyway.

Once they get to the moon, they embark on some wild adventures, and discover things they never expected. I won’t give too much away, because it is an exciting and warm-hearted story, but suffice to say, it’s not very realistic.

I know that science fiction is rarely accurate—that’s why I love it so much, because it lets you escape reality—but just remember that this book was written well before we made it to space. No one knew what would be found on the moon, so the setting presented in this book was likely a very good guess as to what would be there.

Space Cat is an enjoyable story for children and adults alike. It’s also a great introduction to science fiction for young readers. This would make a wonderful bedtime story, or a book for kids and parents to read through together. It’d be even better if you had your own kitten to cuddle with while reading.

Needless to say, if you haven’t read Space Cat before, you should get your hands on a copy, because it’s out of this world.

Thank you to the publisher for an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley.

This is a very good story about a cat named Flyball who flies to the moon. Flyball is very cute in his pressure suit.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review

Space Cat was amazing. I wish I had such a cute introduction to Sci-fi when I was a kid. I can't wait till the summer so I can sit with my nephew to read this.

A Slightly Goofy Nostalgia Piece That Still Appeals

Everyone has a few childhood books that still resonate, and lots of times those books involve animals, (especially dogs, cats, or horses), or space adventure and sci-fi. My go-to 50's memory along those lines is Eleanor Cameron's "Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet". But for many the Space Cat series fits the bill. This is the first book, (published in 1952), of the four book Space Cat series.

If you love it because you remember it, that's swell. You might also find it interesting as a bit of cultural memorabilia. After all, this is over 65 years old and fits in the same niche as "Twilight Zone" and liking Ike. Reading it again now I notice little bits of attitude and ways of describing things that just feel so 50's.

But what about the appeal to a kid reader now? Well, the science is certainly dated. The author had creative fun with his version of rocket travel, and the moon, and life on the moon, and so on. For 1952 this was a pretty fair and sciencey effort. But a kid reader now would have to be willing to overlook a lot, sort of the way we read Jules Verne. If your kid is a literal sort who likes harder science, this might be a harder sell. On the other hand, as a cat story this is way better than most, and I could see personable and clever and catty Space Cat being a favorite book character for any lover of catcentric books.

The writing is crisp and the pacing is fast. There are a number of charming set pieces and even some suspenseful scenes just right for younger readers. The style is not especially dated and the adventure holds the reader's interest. My bottom line is that this has held up well and might have real appeal for a cat fancier, and especially a space cat fancier.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

What an adorable little story this was! I feel like fans of Catstronauts would like this book. Best for middle graders.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Space Cat was written and published back in 1952. It tells the story of a kitten named Flyball who manages to adopt an astronaut- still called rocketeers back then- and ends up going to the moon with his human. Flyball is a kitty I can love. He is very adventurous and determined. Even when the humans want to stop him from doing something, he finds a way.
He, like me in my palace, rules the roost. He knows he is in charge and his human would not be able to exist without him. In fact, Flyball does save his human’s life. Some humans accept the inevitable quicker than others but he wins over all of them.
It is fascinating reading this 60 plus years after it was written. This was long before any living creature was shot into space and nearly twenty years before the moon landing. Naturally, since it is a fantasy, there are lots of elements that are whimsical. However, on other things, it gets close to the mark.
Overall, it is simply a charming story with lovely characters and delightful artwork. It would be a welcome addition for readers young and old. I give it a hearty five purrs and two paws up.

Space Cat was a really fun book to read. This small kitten took me on a pretty interesting journey. He has goals and he won’t let anything stop him from reaching them. Along the way he takes some risks, but they end up paying off. He even saves a life towards the end. The illustrations did a fine job bringing certain scenes to life and I can see kids really enjoying this book.

This is a book about a cat named Flyball that is always up for a good adventure. He is fascinated by space and ends up "working" at a space station and then eventually goes to the moon.

This is a great introduction to science fiction for young readers. I loved Flyball and his conceited feline attitude!

Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Dover Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. What a fun read. Great story for early readers or for a bedtime story. It is cute and whimsical. Fun for everyone. I gave it a 4.5. I actually think I read this as a child. The is for bringing it back k!